Variability of Benthic Communities in Relation to Hydrodynamic Conditions in the North-Eastern Baltic Sea

Abstract

ABSTRACT Herkul, K.; Torn, K.; Suursaar, U.; Alari, V., and Peterson, A., 2016. Variability of benthic communities in relation to hydrodynamic conditions in the north-eastern Baltic Sea. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 867–871. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Wave forcing is an important hydrodynamic variable that influences spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of marine benthos. In this study, we used three principally different wave models – simplified wave model (SWM), spectral wave model SWAN (simulating waves nearshore), and locally calibrated point model (LCPM) – to assess the effects of wave forcing on the distribution and temporal dynamics of macrobenthos in the north-eastern Baltic Sea. Other important environmental variables like depth, salinity, turbidity etc., were also included into analyses of benthos distr...